On Boxing Day, Stoke City suffered a heavy defeat against Leeds United.
Narcis Pelach believes the crucial moment in Stoke City’s home defeat to Championship leaders Leeds United came in the second minute. The Potters could have taken an early lead, but Lewis Koumas was held back by Illan Meslier’s athleticism.
The visitors dominated proceedings for large stretches of time and earned maximum points when top marksman Joel Piroe scored twice each side of halftime. When asked if the game may have turned out differently if Koumas had placed them ahead, City manager Pelach answered, “I believe so. It was a terrific chance, but (Illan) Meslier made an excellent save and responded well to the shot.
“We’re upset with the results. Leeds are a really good team that makes things difficult for all teams, not just us. We had a good chance with Lewis but didn’t score, and we anticipated they’d have more possession and would put us deep. They’re a good team. When you try to press them, they move quickly, and when they miss an opportunity, they create another. We were beaten by quality.”
The defeat extended the Potters’ winless streak to nine matches, putting additional pressure on Pelach. Their last victory came on November 6 against Blackburn Rovers.
Stoke, who are 19th in the Championship and three points above the relegation zone, host Sunderland on Sunday in their final game of 2024. “When you don’t get wins in football, the confidence goes down,” Pelach told me. “We need to try to be tough and not feel sorry for ourselves. Things can change quickly, but we must believe that we can do it.
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